45407 on the Cotton Mill Express - 06/12/2008

45407 (5407) the Lancashire Fusilier on the clockwise Cotton Mill Express (Manchester Victoria - Bolton - Darwen - Blackburn - Hebden Bridge - Brighouse - Marsden - Stalybridge - Manchester Victoria) seen near Walk Mill on the climb to Copy Pit and near Quick on the approach to Mossley on Saturday 6th December 2008.


Not my finest hour - but it happens and you have to smile!


First scene is very near Walk Mill on the climb to Copy Pit from Burnley. I was running late and was just getting out of the car when I got a very helpful message from Ralph4507 which told me they were leaving Blackburn. No time to hang around, trundled up the hill and hoped for the best - new location for me. Lovely hill and viaduct in the background in full sun. Discovered the train doesn't use that viaduct when the first evidence of her approach was directly behind a gatepost! Worse, the train travels left - out of shot, then further left, then disappears - I knew there was a tunnel but where would it reappear? Hasty realignment as smoke appears low down through the trees. The nearby cutting was much deeper than it looked from the aerial pictures so no sight of the train for a while (thought I'd see the top of the boiler etc.) and the going away shot was marred by exhaust.


Got Ralph's next message that they were at Huddersfield before I had reached the M62 (had walked further up the hill than I had realised) so the trip to Marsden was scrubbed and I headed towards Saddleworth/Mossley. Just got to Quick/Mossley having missed a turn in Delph and was struggling with the tripod as the train came round the far corner of the hill just beyond Saddleworth. By the time the camera was rolling half the planned shot was lost and then at the end I messed up the image but got the sound of 45407 going away (hence the sound continues over a still of the last decent frame).

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• 45407
• 5407
• Lancashire
• Fusilier
• Cotton
• Mill
• Express
• Walk
• Copy
• Pit
• Quick
• Mossley
• preserved
• steam
• mainline

[M3UEX]

very good A+++++++++ 100%

[khankadet]

Thank you sir. From your photos it looks like the Middleton is making progress. Chris

[Lainiodurrant]

No need for apologies: this was a lovely video. I enjoyed all its richness: the varied and beautiful scenery, lots of great chuffing and wonderful billowing exhaust! I thought it was great and I'm going to watch it again. Thanks.

[khankadet]

Thanks Elaine. I'd hoped you'd enjoy the scenery. It really was a beautiful (if cold) day to be out in the English countryside. Well worth going out for. Chris

[GreatWestern175]

Another masterpiece made here Chris. In terms of weather, sun, snow, scenery and authentic shots of steam, What could go wrong? Thats a perfect combination you got there.

[khankadet]

Thanks Ryan. Yes - everything was spot on for a classic video. Chris

[slbury]

Thanks Chris for the info. Local as in Bramhall and about 20 mins from there I guess but currently in the States so YouTube steam is a blessing.

Steve

[khankadet]

Thanks Vic, those are the good things to enjoy here which is why I still put it up. Chris

[khankadet]

Thanks for your support Lou. Really lovely conditions and 45407 going great guns. Hope you are feeling a little better. Chris

[firemanvic36c]

Still worth watching Chris,as you know the scenery is a big plus for me.Plenty of that,mixed with sound and oodles of steam,9/10 this time